manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229
Impeach case moves to plenary House panel finds probable cause to impeach VP Sara
By Maricel V. Cruz
T
Senate to decide when to ‘forthwith’—SC
HE House Committee on Justice found NEWS / A2 probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte and send the consolidated complaint against her to the plenary for a vote on Monday (May 4). The committee voted unanimously that evidence in the two complaints alleging Duterte misused public funds in office and made a death threat against
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had successfully established probable cause to pursue impeachment.
VOL. XL • NO. 75 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026
Next page
VP’s lawyers: House finding ‘not unexpected’ By Katrina Manubay
The NBI said there was a “reasonable certainty of conviction” against the Vice President for inciting to sedition and multiple counts of grave threats against the First Couple and ex-Speaker Romualdez. Senior NBI agent Jeremy Lotoc made the confirmation in answer to questions raised by Akbayan
VICE President Sara Duterte’s legal team on Wednesday said the House Committee on Justice’s finding of probable cause to impeach her was “not unexpected,” citing the direction of the proceedings. The statement came after the panel voted unanimously to find probable cause on two impeachment complaints, a step that could lead to the elevation of the cases to the plenary and possible transmittal to the Senate. A total of 53 lawmakers voted to confirm probable cause on the complaints endorsed by ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega, and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante. “The finding of probable cause by the House Committee on Justice was not unexpected, given the direction the proceedings had taken,” Duterte’s defense team said. The camp also argued that the panel’s proceedings went beyond the verified complaints and supporting attachments. “We respectfully maintain that the proceedings before the Committee departed
Next page
Next page
UNANIMOUS. The House Committee on Justice unanimously votes in finding probable cause in two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte. Ver Noveno
VP Sara hired an assassin to carry out threat vs. PBBM—NBI By Maricel V. Cruz THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday confirmed that Vice President Sara Duterte had contacted an assassin to carry out her threat to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In the same hearing, the NBI said it was fol-
• Sedition, grave threats recommended vs. VP lowing leads on individuals who may have been approached to act as hitmen to carry out the supposed assassinations.
PhilHealth to increase maternity DOLE to provide benefits starting today—Marcos P797m to over By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced a major expansion of maternity benefits under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), saying the move aims to ensure safer childbirth and reduce financial bar-
NEW BENEFITS.
File photo shows a pregnant mother and her young son walking past a mural in Manila. AFP
riers for Filipino families. In a video statement released Wednesday, Mr. Marcos said the rising cost of medical care—including checkups, laboratory tests, hospital fees and medicines—often forces expectant mothers to delay or limit care, Next page
100k displaced worker families By Vito Barcelo
MORE than 111,000 disadvantaged and displaced workers nationwide will receive over P797 million in wage payouts as part of nationwide Labor Day activities on May 1, providing immediate financial relief to workers and families affected by income disruption. Next page
SUMMONED. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. meets separately with the French and Czech envoys to Manila to raise concerns over actions taken by their respective governments in relation to the legal status of fugitive solon Zaldy Co. Top photo shows the President with French Ambassador Marie Fontanel while inset shows his meeting with Czech Chargé d’Affaires Eva Tenzin. PCO
Diesel, gas prices to go higher; rice to cost more By Alena Mae S. Flores AFTER three weeks of oil price rollbacks, consumers can expect an increase in diesel and gasoline prices next week of as much P3 per liter. Based on this week’s first two days Mean of Platts Singapore average and
UAE withdraws from OPEC BUSINESS / B1 the foreign exchange movement, the industry source said diesel is expected to increase by P1 to P3 per liter and
gasoline by P1 to P2 per liter. “The stalled US-Iran talks has helped drive prices higher this week, as Iran still maintained its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy upholds its blockade of Iran’s ports,” the source said. Next page